Hydrangea plant named &#39;JoAnn&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘JoAnn’, characterized by its loosely upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; strong and sturdy stems; relatively small leaves; freely flowering habit; large showy inflorescences with sterile flowers that are initially white in color and with development become pink to rosy violet pink in color; and good garden performance and winter hardiness.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Hydrangea quercifolia

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘JoAnn’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea quercifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JoAnn’.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from an open-pollination of an unnamed selection of Hydrangea quercifolia, not patented, as the female, or seed parent and an unknown selection of Hydrangea quercifolia as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Kingsville, Missouri during the summer of 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JoAnn’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JoAnn’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Loosely upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Strong and sturdy stems.     -   3. Relatively small leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large showy inflorescences with sterile flowers that are         initially white in color and with development become pink to         rosy violet pink in color.     -   6. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller leaves than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more winter hardy than plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differed primarily from plants of ‘Ruby Slippers’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea were taller than plants of ‘Ruby         Slippers’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Ruby Slippers’ differed in         developed sterile flower color as plants of ‘Ruby Slippers’ had         ruby red-colored developed sterile flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Amethyst’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differed primarily from plants of ‘Amethyst’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea had longer inflorescences than         plants of ‘Amethyst’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Amethyst’ differed in         developed sterile flower color as plants of ‘Amethyst’ had wine         red-colored developed sterile flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘JoAnn’ growing in an outdoor nursery. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical developing inflorescence of ‘JoAnn’. The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical developed inflorescence of ‘JoAnn’. Plants used in the photographs were four years old.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following description were grown during the summer in five-gallon containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the description was taken. Plants were overwintered in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘JoAnn’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Hydrangea             quercifolia, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea             quercifolia, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one month at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness; somewhat             fibrous and fleshy; creamy white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial deciduous shrub;             loosely upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; broad             inverted triangle; strong and sturdy lateral branches;             freely branching habit with about eight to ten primary             branches developing per plant; vigorous growth habit and             rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 80 cm to 110 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 86 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 54 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Internode length: Distally, about 4 cm to 6 cm; proximally,             about 11.5 cm. Strength: Strong, sturdy. Aspect: About 5° to             50° from vertical. Texture: Developing branches are             pubescent and become woody with development, mature bark             exfoliating. Color, developing: Close to 145C; pubescence,             close to 164A. Color, developed: Close to between 200B to             almost 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm to 19 cm.         -   Width.—About 9 cm to 14 cm.         -   Shape.—Pinnately-lobed.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; slightly rigid.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Rough, pubescent; rigid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 145D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, velvety. Color,             upper surface: Close to 145C and 164A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 145C. -   Inflorescence & flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single sterile and fertile flowers             arranged on large terminal panicles; flowers face upright             and outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Very faint; sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from mid to             late summer in Grand Haven, Mich.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 1,300             fertile flowers and about 58 sterile flowers develop per             inflorescence.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 19 cm to 36 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9 cm to 18 cm.         -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds, fertile and sterile flowers.—Length: About             3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Clavate. Color: Close to             195C.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Arrangement: Five in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145D; color does not change with             development.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Arrangement: Four in a single             whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155A. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 155A; color does not change             with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity per flower: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D; color does             not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity per flower: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 1.7             cm to 2.3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 155A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 155A; with development, color becoming closer to 186B and             then becoming closer to 63A.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter:             Less than 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 90°             from inflorescence axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 145B.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.1 cm to 1.6 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong, sturdy. Angle: About             5° to about 45° from inflorescence axis. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament             color: Close to 155A. Anther shape: Round. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 3D. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 3D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Two or three. Pistil length: Less than             0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Oblong. Stigma color: Close to 145D.             Style length: Less than 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145D.             Ovary color: Close to 146D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament             color: Close to 155A. Anther shape: Lobed. Anther length:             About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 18A. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 0.5 mm.             Stigma shape: Two to three-lobed. Stigma color: Close to             155A. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to             155A. Ovary color: Close to 155A and 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed     to have good garden performance by exhibiting good tolerance to rain     and wind. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea have been     observed to have good winter hardiness and high temperature     tolerance as plants have been observed to tolerate temperatures     ranging from about −29° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘JoAnn’ as illustrated and described. 